Improvement in millstone-picks



n.13. COLEMAN. Millstone Pick.

No. 199,960. Patented Feb. 5,1878.

ffl/y1 MPETEBS. PHOTU-LJTHOGRAPNER. WASHINGToNfD C.

Wf/X/Qy UNTTED STATESv PATENT OFFICE;

HAMILTON D. COLEMAN, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MILLSTONE-PICKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,960, dated February 5, 1&78; application iiled January 14, 1878.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, HAMILTON DUDLEY COLEMAN, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Millstone-Picks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the saine, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the handle. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the securing-strap.

Previous to my invention, in frequent cases, the mill-picks commonly used had separate and detachable blades fitting in or secured to a cast-iron head, which are exceedingly objectionable from the fact that there is more or less spring in the blades, and they do not give a solid blow; and, again, with picks using separate blades or bits, the cast-iron head, to be sufficiently strong, renders it so heavy that the pick is not well balanced, and the workman becomes fatigued to a greater extent than when working with a better balanced tool 5 and it will be further noticed that the means generally adopted to keep the handle tight in the head were found to be inadequate to the purpose.

The object of the present invention, therefore, is to remedy as far as possible the above difficulties and produce a perfect tool for the purpose intended; and the invention consists in a star-head for millstone -picks, provided with cutting-edges, said head being removably connected or secured to the handle.

The invention further consists in a strap provided with, or having at its upper end, an opening or slot, through which passes one of the points or cutting-edges of the pick-head, the strap being connected to the handle by a wedge and key or other equivalent or suitable means.

The invention also consists in forming abifurcation or slot in the upper end of the handle, in connection with the star-head of the pick, whereby one of the points or cuttingedges thereof is held within the bifurcation or slot by a suitable fastening device.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents the star-shaped pick-head or tool, having points or cutting-edges a, and B is the handle, having a bifurcated or slotted end, b, which may either be made in one or the same piece with the handle, or, if desirable, the handle may be made in two pieces, riveted or banded together. A strap, C, secures the pick-head or tool within the slotted end b, and to the handle by a key and wedge, c el.

In order to secure the pick-head to the handle, it is first placed within the bifurcated or slotted end b, and the open head g of the strap passed over the end of one of the cuttingpoints of the pick -head and brought down upon the handle until the slots c in the strap register with the slot j' in the handle, after which the key c is inserted within the slots, and afterward the wedge d, rmly fastening and securing the strap upon the handle, which, in turn, holds the pick-head thereto.

I consider the above as the best means for -securing the strap to the handle, for the reason that a hammer or other tool is not necessary to loosen the wedge when required to detach the key in removing the strap, as it may be accomplishedby striking or hittingthepoint of the wedge upon -the stone being dressed.

There are many other devices or means which may be used, such as a bolt and nut passing through both the ends of the strap and the handle, or a clamping-plate and setscrew 5 but these I consider less practical than the means hereinbefore described.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A star-head for millstone-picks provided with cutting-edges or`points, said head being removably secured to the handle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A strap provided at its upper end with an opening or slotted head, through which one of the points or cutting-edges of the pick-head passes, said strap being secured to the handle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A strap provided at its upper end with an opening or slot, through whichl one of the cutting edges or points of the pick-head passes,

the lower ends of the strap also being formed with openings, in combination with a key and Wedge for securing the same to the handle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with a star-head of a inillstone-pick provided with points or cuttingedges, of a handle bifurcated or slotted at one end for the reception of said head, and a means, substantially as described, of securing the head Within the slot or bifurcation, for the purpose set forth.

5. The pick-head or tool and bifurcated or slotted handle, in combination with the strap and a means'for securing or fastening said strap to the handle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

. HAMILTON DUDLEY COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

ANDREW HERO, C. M. HERO. 

